Unitffo statfs patfnt offitf



S. TBAW-INSKL SHGE LACING MEANS.

APPLICATION EILED- MAY 13.1922

1,429,657. Pa'hentedfiept- 19,1922.

Patented Sept, 19, 1922.

UNITED STATES- STEPHEN TRAW'INSKI, or'enrcaeo, rumors.

SHOE-LACING. MEANS.

Application filed May 13, 1922. Serial No. 560,680.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN TmwrNsnl, a citizen of Poland, residing atChicago, n the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Lacing Means, of whlch' thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has for its principal ob ect the provision of a lacingmeans incorporated directly into the shoe upper and forming a part ofsaid upper. My lacing means further obviates the necessity of'providmgshoe uppers with metallic eyelets or shoe lace clasps.

A further object of this invention 1S -the provision of a lacing meansthat may readily be associated with articles other than shoes, such asgloves, dress plackets, or the like.

A still further'object of this invention is a lacing means for shoeuppers etc. that is both economical and easy of manufacture and a meanswhich is incorporated directly into the shoe upper and becomes anintegral part thereof. 1 v

With the above general objects in view and others that will becomeapparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the sameconsists of the novel form, cornbination and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing andclaimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure. 1 is a front elevational view of a usual form of shoe showing myimproved lacing means associated therewith,

Figure 2 is a plan View of a portion of the upper showing the integralflaps which form the eyelets for the shoe lace before the same aresecured in operative position,

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a portion of the upper and one'ofthe lacing eyelets, v

Figure 4 is a similar view show-mg in addition thereto a reinforcingstrip on the rear adjacent edges of the shoe upper,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of one.

edge of the upper with the reinforcing strip partly removed for moreclearly showing the relative position of the ends of the flaps formingthe lacing eyes,

Figure 6 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2, with parts broken awayand disclosing a reinforcing means for the portion forming the lacingeyelets and" also shows the relative position of the shoe lace, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 4.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawing,the present device consistsof'a shoe'upperl which is divided to form anopening, of which the edges are adapted to'sbesarranged adjacent to eachother to close the front of the shoe, the adjacent edges of this openingof the upper liis formed asshown in Fig. 2, and it will be readily seenthat these adjacent edges comprise a plurality of integral equidistantlyspaced and relatively long strips 2 and disposed betweeneachofthesestrips 2 and at a point'inwardly of their outer edges thereofare otherstrips 3. The edges of the strips 3 adjacent theedges of the relativelylong strips 2 are slightly cut away or beveled as denoted by the numeral{1- so as to allow a clearance spacebetween the adjacent edges of thestrips 2 and 3. It is to be understood that-the relatively long strips 2are provided for forming the shoe lace receiving eyelets when thesemembers 2 are formed as hereinafter described. The small relativelyshort tabs 3 between the strips 2 are provided merely as areinforcing-means for the adjacent edges of the opening within the shoeupper. lhe strips or flaps 2 and 3 upon the adjacent edges of theupper 1may be formed in any suitable manner desirable. I prefer, however, toform these members by a stamping operation.

The strips or flaps 2 are provided as clearly shown in Fig. 6 with ashort section of cord or the like material 5. These strips of cord areof a length slightly greater than the flaps 2 whereby the ends of thesame may extend a short distancebeyond the ends of the flaps. Theopposite ends of these cords are unraveled andspread apart as at 5 andface of the upper 1 by cement or the like adhesive and heat and pressureis applied thereto for vulcanizing the said member.

Upon the inner surface of the edges of the opening formed Within theupper 1 and over the ends of the inturned flaps 2 and 3 there isprovided reinforcing strip 7 of leather or other flexible material. Thisstrip '7 is likewise adhesiyely secured to the inner face of the upperby cement or the like and as clearly shown in. Figs. 1-, 5 and 7 a rowof stitching 8 is formed at a point slightly spaced inwardly from theouter edge of the strip 7, this row of stitching serving an additionalretaining means for the flap 7 and strips 2 and 3.

From the above description it will be clearly noted that the adj aeentedges of the opening formed in the upper l are provided with a pluralityof vertically alined and oppositely disposed shoe lace receiving eyeletspreviously denoted. by the ninneral 2. In the preferred embodiment of myinvention I employ but a single shoe lace 9 and received Within each rowof eyelets 52 as shown in the plan View, Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction andoperation as Well as the advantages of the present inven tion will bereadily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made in the invention Without departing from thespirit and scope thereof as claimed.

\Vhat is claimed as new is 1. In a shoe lacing means, an upper dividedto form an opening therein, a plurality of integral eyes suitably spacedapart upon adjacent edges of the said opening, the said eyes beingformed by relatively long integral flap members projecting from thesides of the opening in the upper, the said flaps being folded back on aline substantially midway of their length and then secured to the innerface of the shoe upper, and a reinforcing strip Within the adjacentedges of the shoe upper secured therein by means of an adhesive and aroW of stitching passing through the said strip and the overturned edgesof the integral flap.

2. In a shoe lacing means, a shoe upper divided to form an openingtherein, a plurality of integrally formed eyes upon the ad jacent edgesof the opening Within the upper, the said eyes being suitably spacedapart, reinforcing means upon the edge of the shoe between the spacedeyes comprising relatively short strips of material between the shoeeyes, which strips are folded upon themselves and then secured to theadjacent inner face of the shoe upper by means of adhesive or the like.

in testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

STEPHEN TRAVVINSKI.

